Publications

This third annual report monitors global progress towards the 2023 target for global elimination of industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFA), highlighting achievements from the past year. Countries are responding to the World Health Organization (WHO) call to action by putting into place best-practice TFA policies. Mandatory TFA policies are currently in effect for 3.2 billion people in 57 countries; of these, 40 countries have best-practice policies in effect, covering 1.4 billion people (18% of the global population).

Since May 2020, there has been significant progress in TFA elimination around the world: best-practice policies came into effect in Turkey in January 2021, the European Union in April 2021, Brazil in July 2021 and Peru in July 2021; a best-practice policy was passed in Singapore in June 2020 and came into effect in June 2021; best-practice policies were passed in India in February 2021 (to come into effect in January 2022), in the Philippines in July 2021 (to come into effect in July 2023) and in Paraguay in September 2020 (to come into effect in September 2024); and Bangladesh notified draft best-practice TFA policies for public comment in March 2021.

These recent major advances will affect other countries, as food manufacturers will reformulate products to comply with the new regulations. The new regulations can also serve as models and catalysts for other countries in regions and around the world to take similar action to protect their citizens from TFA. By aligning with these best-practice policies, countries will achieve improved health outcomes and cost savings, while also benefiting from the more practical aspects of facilitated trade across countries and streamlined reformulation by industry.